Operation: Patrol

Date: 25th October 1940 (Friday)

Unit: No. 145 Squadron

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: P3926

Code: SO-Y

Base: RAF Tangemere, West Sussex

Location: Brightling, East Sussex

Pilot: P/O. Robert Duncan Yule 33502 RAF Age 20. Wounded

REASON FOR LOSS:

Attacked by a Bf109 over Tenterden, but despite being wounded in the leg the pilot managed to force land his Hurricane at Barn Farm, Brightling at 12:30 hrs - then admitted to Pembury Hospital.

Returned back to the Squadron on the 17th February the following year. Then a few days later posted to 53 Operational Training Unit and then onto 61 OTU in June.

Returned to operations in November 1941 joining 501 Squadron, being awarded the DFC on the 17th April 1942 followed by a bar to that on the 20th November 1942 whilst at HQ Group on staff duties for service with 65 Squadron. Awarded the DSO in 1943

Sq/Ldr. Yule DFC bar Citation 20th November 1942. No. 66 Squadron.

“Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in February this year, Squadron Leader Yule has displayed untiring devotion to duty, fine fighting spirit and excellent leadership which have been an example of the highest order. He has participated in many operational sorties and in the combined operations at Dieppe. He has destroyed several and damaged a number of other enemy aircraft”.

In 1953 based at 12 Group Horsham St. Faith in Norfolk, England he was then a Wing Commander flying Meteors. During a practice formation rehearsal for the coming Battle of Britain flypast his aircraft Meteor F.8 WF695 RDY was clipped by the canopy from Meteor WK936 which was taking evasive action when a Hurricane appeared in front of them.

Losing the tail of the Meteor the pilot, W/Cdr. Yule steered the aircraft in the heavily populated area of London to a small open space at Woolwich Arsenal. The pilot was killed but the only other injuries were minor to workers in the area. The pilot of Meteor WK936 made an emergency landing at RAF North Weald in Essex, admitted to hospital with head injuries.

Burial details:

P/O. Robert Duncan Yule. St. Margarets Church, Old Catton, Norfolk. Born on the 29th January 1920 Invercargill, New Zealand, the son of Mr. Robert Yule - dental Surgeon of New Zealand.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, also many thanks to Peter Clarke for the grave photograph - Peter does so much to remember fallen aircrew and others. Other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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